Award-winning Super Eagles star agrees personal terms with Saudi Arabia’s Al Khalood

Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has given the green light to a move that takes him away from Europe and straight to the Middle East, Soccernet.ng reports.

Born in the Netherlands into a mixed Dutch and Nigerian family, Troost-Ekong has played all of his club football in Europe.

Raised in England, the Super Eagles defender attended the football academy at Fulham and Tottenham before starting his professional career at FC Groningen and FC Dordrecht.

Troost-Ekong left the Netherlands again in 2015 to sign for Belgian club KAA Gent in July 2015 and was immediately loaned out to Norwegian club FK Haugesund.

He was still at Haugesund when he played a key role in helping Nigeria win the bronze medal at the 2016 Beijing Olympics. Shortly after, Troost-Ekong moved to Turkey to join Bursaspor, where he spent a season before sealing a transfer to Serie A campaigners Udinese.

The Nigerian centre-back swapped Udinese for sister club Watford in 2020 and he excelled helping the club gain promotion to the Premier League.

Troost-Ekong returned to Italy in January 2023 to team up with Salernitana, impressing as the club avoided relegation to Serie B.

With his contract at Watford expired, Troost-Ekong signed for Greek club PAOK on a permanent deal on a free transfer last year. It turned out to be an inspired move as Troost-Ekong secured the first club honour of his career after PAOK lifted the Greece Super League.

While he still has two years left on his contract with PAOK, it appears Troost-Ekong is ready for a new challenge outside of Europe.

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, William Troost-Ekong has agreed to join Al Khalood in Saudi Arabia. PAOK and Al Khalood have agreed on the fee for the transfer while Troost-Ekong’s personal terms have been settled.

The deal is expected to be made official in the coming hours in what could be the last big move for the Most Valuable Player at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.